Colorado Springs Municipal Airport Information

The Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) is a major gateway into some of the most popular ski resorts in the United States. Upon arriving at the COS airport, passengers are welcomed by the beautiful Rocky Mountains, particularly Pikes Peak and other stunning landscapes in Pike National Forest. The airport is located only five miles east of Colorado Springs, the second largest city in the state of Colorado. Handling more than 2 million passengers per year, the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport is one of the major air hubs in the state and the entire western coast.

The roots of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport go back to 1927, when the city bought a 640-acre lot and built two short gravel runways on it. In the early years of the airport, business was slow as only dozens of passengers used the airport each month. In 1940, the first terminal was built at the airport and the building was in the art deco style, the most popular architectural design of the time. During World War II, Colorado Springs Municipal Airport served as a training base for the United States Air Force as fighter jets such as the P-38 trained at the airport.

Today, the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport still shares ground with the Peterson Air Force Base, which has been in operation by the United States military since World War II. Passengers at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport are urged to explore the Peterson Air and Space Museum on the air force base grounds. The museum has more than a dozen historic military aircraft on display, especially fighter jets.

The most dramatic changes to the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport came during the 1990's. In 1991, the airport added three new runways to accommodate modern jets and other passenger aircraft. The longest runway is made from concrete and stretches for more than 13,000 feet. The two other runways are made from asphalt and measure 11,022 feet and 8,269 feet in length.

In 1994, the existing passenger terminal building officially opened. This terminal facility features three levels and occupies more than 280,00 square feet. Built for $140 million, the grand opening ceremony of the new terminal building was welcomed by more than 50,000 excited spectators. The Colorado Springs Municipal Airport terminal has multiple art installations and exhibitions throughout the terminal, allowing visitors to explore themes related to the local history and culture.